5 Things You Can Do to Boost Your Library’s Facebook Page Reach

By Beth McGough

Are you reaching fewer patrons through Facebook today than you were a year ago? Facebook Page posts have had a harder time reaching fans since the News Feed algorithm changes Facebook started last fall. This recent post from Ciceron sums up the impact of the changes. Last month I shared a post about using Facebook Ads to promote your library.

Here are five tips for reaching more patrons through Facebook -- without spending a dollar:

1. Be engaging. Don’t ask for Likes, comments, or shares. Facebook is flagging these posts as spam. Ask questions or try fill in the blank posts to boost the conversation on your page.

2. Use self-explanatory images. Post easy to share images that don’t need to be accompanied by a status update. Try quotes or recognizable images from your community or library.

3. Try posting during off hours. Consultant Jon Loomer recently suggested this technique and is seeing results from his tests. Use Facebook Insights to find out when your patrons are online. There is probably a significant dip in activity very late at night. Try scheduling posts at this time and see what happens.

4. Post more. Previously, Facebook admins were warned about posting too often, but with increased competition for visibility in the News Feed, Pages should consider posting more often. Post 3-4 times throughout the day and evening to maximize opportunities for reaching your patrons.

5. Change your cover image. When was the last time you freshened up your Page? Regularly changing your cover image can increase engagement on your Page.

What is the most popular type of Facebook post your library shares? Let me know through Twitter or Facebook. If I receive enough responses, I will follow up this blog post with one featuring your tips for boosting reach.

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